Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-27

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You recently bought a jacket, but when you got home, you discovered it was
damaged. When you took it back to the store, you were told that merchandise
cannot be returned.

Write a letter to the store manager. In your letter:
• describe the problem with the jacket.
• explain what happened when you tried to return it.
• say what you would like the manager to do.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear sir,

I am writing this letter to inform you that, last Sunday I had purchased a winter jacket from your store. Although it was looking perfectly, when I came home I found that the jacket is torn. Eventually, it made me upset as I have paid $150.

Yesterday, the store had been visited by me for exchange, however, staff told me that they neither replace it nor refund. Unfortunately, I got shocked because I have been a loyal customer of Indemand outfits for years. To be honest, I experienced an unprofessional.

Finally, it would be appreciated, if you assist me to solve this concern. Kindly, either change my jacket with another one or initiate my refund. I am going to forward you the original receipt and jacket via fedex .

I will also send the tracking number and parcel information.

I hope you will understand my problem and take appropriate action.

Yours faithfully

Nikhil

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The candidate successfully covers all three bullet points required in the task instructions. The problem with the jacket is clearly described, noting that it was purchased last Sunday and found to be torn upon returning home. The second bullet point is addressed by explaining the visit to the store and the staff's refusal to offer an exchange or refund. Finally, the third bullet point is covered by stating what the candidate wants the manager to do, namely to either change the jacket or initiate a refund. The tone is appropriately formal for a complaint letter. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring all parts of the prompt are addressed satisfactorily. Overall, this performance aligns closely with Band 6.5 or 7.0 for Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter maintains a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information is generally presented in a logical sequence, starting with the purchase and the issue, followed by the store visit, and concluding with the requested action. Paragraphing is used adequately to separate distinct stages of the letter, such as the introduction of the problem, the store visit, and the resolution. Cohesive devices are used, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical, such as 'Eventually' and 'Finally'. Referencing is mostly clear, although the transition between sentences in the second paragraph could be smoother. Overall, the coherence and cohesion of the text meet the standard for a Band 6.5 or 7.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The candidate demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully conveying the intended meaning. Less common vocabulary items are attempted, such as 'loyal customer', 'merchandise' equivalents, and 'unprofessional', although some word choices and collocations are unnatural or slightly inaccurate, such as 'looking perfectly' instead of 'looking perfect' and 'experienced an unprofessional' missing a noun. Spelling and word choice errors do not impede communication. The lexical range is sufficient to allow some flexibility and precision, but errors keep it within the Band 6.0 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating a reasonable command of grammar. Examples of complex structures include 'Although it was looking perfectly, when I came home I found that the jacket is torn.' However, there are notable grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'the store had been visited by me for exchange', which uses an awkward passive voice, and tense inconsistency ('is torn' instead of 'was torn'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, and while errors occur, they rarely impede overall communication. This performance fits comfortably within the Band 6.0 descriptors.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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